Drop-end gondola car.



V. E. SISSON.

DROP END GONDOLA CAR. APPLICATION HLED JUNE I9. 1916.

Patented Min. 20, 1918.

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v. E. SISSON. DROP END GONDOLA CAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 19MB 1,260,468. v Patented Mar. 26, ma.

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DROP-END GONDOLA CAR.

menace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.l silic iPatented 73d,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIN'ION E. SIssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drop-End Gondola Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toa drop end gondola car. These'cars are frequently used for carrying structures such ,as steel girders, rails, and the like, which are longer than the car, and in such case the end gates, which are, of course, supported in upright position when the car is used for bulk freight, lie flatwise on the floor under the girders, rails, or the like. For this reason, and because of the hard usage which the gates receive in being opened and closed, and also while the car'is in transit, due to cargo thrusts when the car happens to. be loaded with heavy, movable articles,- thegates are likely to be injured so that as heretofore constructed, they have required repair and re.- placement very frequently.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an end gatefor a drop end gondola car which will be capable of withstanding the heavy stresses and rough usage to which this part of the car is subjected when in service.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and devices in the end gates of drop end gondola cars to be hereinafter described and claimed.

' The invention is illustrated, in certain preferred embodiments, in the accompanyin drawings wherein igurel is an end view of the superstructure of a drop end gondola car constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car.

Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken on line i i of Fig. 1, showing the end gate in upright position.

F 5 is a similar view showing the and gate lying on the flooring of the car.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the means of connecting the end gate to the .underframing of the car, said view illustrating in plan the position of the connecting elements illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View, on.

larger scale than the preceding figures,

the under frame of the car, 11, 11 the side walls and 12 the flooring. 13 is an angular pressed steelmember secured to the under frame of thehar-and. formed. With an upstanding flange 14, the function of which is to form a stop strip .for the end gate when the latter isin upright position; end

' gate consists preferably of a sheet of metal 15 formed with corrugations 16 which prcf erably run horizontally of the sheet, merge into each other and terminate Within the edges of the sheet. These corrugations are preferably pressed so that they extend inwardly of the car from the plane of the iiat portions of the sheet. The edgesof the sheet are preferably provided at the side with stiffening flanges l7, 17, at the top with a flange 18, and at the bottom with a flange 19 which flanges, if formed integral with the body of the sheet, as shown, are joined onewith another by angle pieces 20. The upper edge of the gate is further rcinforced by an angle bar 21. Each of the side walls 11 is provided with a pair of angie strips jecting into the end opening against which the end gate lies when in upright position. The gate is hinged to the body of the car by any suitable number of hinges of such character as to permit the gate to be folded down upon the floor of the car as shown in Fig. 5. I have'shown these hinges consisting, in each case, of a Li-holt or staple 24 on the upstanding flange 14: of the angle bar 13, a Ubolt or staple 25 on the lower flange 19 of the gate, and a loop or ring 26" connecting the bolts. The gate is held in upright position by means of latch bars 27 loosely connected with the gate by staples 28, and brackets 29 on the ends of the side Walls of the car, the latch bars being preferablyponstructed with their free extremities in ,the form of books 30 which extend around the brackets.

lit 'Ill be seen that the end gate consists 22, 23 having overlapping flanges proill? of very strong and rigid structurewhich in shape of a shallow box stifiened, at is to aay,'a corrugated panel reinforced 'l. circumferential, angularly disllhe corrugations of the panel its strength and rigidity.

u the ate is v the lioor by flanges 17, 18, 19, the 18 at the upper end of the gate being strengthened. by means of an angle bar 21. The structure is, therefore, capable of carrying very heayy loads without being crushed l, a drop end'gondola car,'the combisaid gate is in its end-closing position.

2. in a drop end gondola car, the combination with. the body ofthe car, of an end comprising a sheet of metal formed th a plurality of contiguously arranged corrugations which terminate within the edges of the sheet and provided with stifl'ening flanges angular-1y disposed with respect to tbcbody of the sheet, means for liinging end gate at its lower edge to the car body, and means on the body of the car against which the bottom and vertical edges of the gate bear when the gate is in closed position.

In a drop end gondola car, the oombination with the body of the car, of an end gate comprising a sheet of metal formed with a plurality of contiguouslyl arranged corrugations which terminate within the edges of the sheet and provided with stiffening flanges angularly disposed with respect to the body of the sheet and projecting inwardly of the car so that when folded down said flanges rest upon the floor of the car, and means for hinging said end gate at its lower edge to the car body'.

4. lin a drop end gondola car, the combination with the body of the car, of an end gate comprising sheet of metal formed with a plurality of contiguously arranged corrugations avliicli terminate within the edges of the sheet and formed with integral singularly disposed stiflening flanges, angle'members for joining said flanges one with another, means for hinging said end gate at its lower edge to the car body, and means on the body of the car against which the bottom and vertical edges of the gate bear when the gate is in closed position.

5. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the body of the car, of a sheet metal end consistingof a; sheet metal folded. down it is support.

end panel having its edges .bent at right angles to the plane of the sheet to provide an. inwardly projecting rigidifying rim, means for hmging said end gate at its lower edge to the car body, and means on the body of the car against which the bottom and ertical edges of the gate bear when the gate is in closed position.

6. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the body of the car, of a sheet metal end gate consisting of a sheet metal end panel formed with stiifening corrugations and having its edges bent at right angles to the plane of the sheet to provide an inwardly projecting rigidfying rim, means for hinging said end gate at its lower edge to the'car body, and means on thg body of the car against which the bottom a'ild vertical edges of the gate bear when the gate is in closed position.

7. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the under frame and side walls of the car, of means constituting inwardly projecting flanges on the extremities of said side walls, an upwardly projecting flange on the under frame in the same'plane-with' the aforementioned flanges, and a corrugated sheet metal end gate hinged'at its lower edge to the car and adapted to bear against said flanges when in upright position;

8. In a drop end gondola car, the combi' nation with the under frame and side walls of the car, of means constituting inwardly projecting flanges onthe extremities of said side walls, an upwardly projecting flange on the under frame in the same plane with the aforementioned. fianges,. and i a corrugated sheet metal end gate hinged at its lower edge to the car and adapted to bear against said flanges when in upright position, said end gate being provided with a continuous, rigid, inwardly projecting marginal flange on which the gate is supported when folded down on the floor of the car.

9. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the underframe, sides and floring of the car, of an angular member secured to said under frame having an upstanding flange spaced from the flooring of the car, and an end gate hinged at its lower edge to said upstanding flangeco isisting of a sheet metal panel provided with a rigidifying rim angularly disposed with respectto the body. of the sheet and projecting towardthe interior of the car.

10. In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the under frame, sides and flooring of the car, of an angular member secured to said under frame having an upstanding flange spaced from the flooring of the car, an end gate hingedat its lower edge to said upstanding flange consisting of a sheet metal panel provided with rigidifying flanges ang larly disposed with respect tothe body of the panel'and projecting toward theinterior cured to ..15,flanges angularlydisposed with respect to 4O nation with of the car, a pair of angle strips attached to the inside and outside, respectively, of each of said side walls with overlapping flangesprojectin into the end opening against 5 which'sald endgate bearslwhen in upright position. 11. In a drop end gondola car, the combi-- nation with the under frame, sides and flooring of the car, of an angular member sesaid under frame having an upstanding flange spaced from the flooring of the car, an end gate hinged at its lower edge to said upstanding flange 'consistingofa sheet metal panel provided with rigidifying the body of the panel and projecting toward theinterior of the car, a pair of angle strips attached to the inside and outside, respectively, ofeach of said side walls with over- 120* lapping flanges projecting into the endopening against which said end gate bears when in upright position, latch bars on said end gate having hook forming extremities, and brackets on the car adapted to be engaged by said latch bars.

12.In a drop end gondola car, the combination with the body of the ear, of a sheet-metal end gate hinged.,'at its lower edge to the body of the carand consisting of a sheet-metal panel formed with a'plu- 'rality of inwardly pressed contiguously arranged stiffening corrugations and provided with means constituting flanges angularlydisposed with respect to the plane of said '35 pan d projecting toward theinterior of th d means-on the body of the car 'agamst nich the.bottom'and vertical edges of the gate hear when in closed position.

13. In a drop end gondola-car, the combithe body of the'car, of a sheet ,metal end gate hinged at its lower edge to the body of the car and consisting of a sheet metal end panel formed with a plurality of inwardly pressed contigllaously arranged stiffening corrugations terminating within the edges of the sheet, the margin of said sheet being provided with means constituting flanges angularly dispdsed-with respect to said sheet and projectin", toward the interior of the car and mean Eon the body of the car against which the bottom and vertical edges of the gate hear when in closed position.

14:. In a drop end gondola car, thecombi- 56 nation with the under frame, side walls and flooring of the car, of an angular member secured to 'theunder frame, provided with an upstanding flange spaced away from said s providing flooring, means on said side wall so inwardly pr0 ect1ng flanges lying in the planeof said upwardly projecting flange, a

* projecting toward the interior of the c J means for hinglne" said end gate to the e:

pro ecting flanges on the ex 16. In a drop end gondola th body of the car whn sheet metal corrugated end a sists of a metal sheet to 'v rality of horizontally disposed (K terminating within the edges 01 and formed with a marginal stiifenir comprising a U holt on said upstand flange, a U-bolt on the bottom edge of gate and a loop coiniccting said tl-bol 15. In a drop, end gondola car, the e nation with the under frame and side wel of the car, ()f'l'l']?al$ constit'i r inwar:

side Walls, an rqewarll i plane on the under tim p the aforementioned flanges, and a gated sheet metal end gate ii1n""i lower edge to the car, provide fying members along e to bear against said ii: position. v

nation with the under :Irai of the car, meanseons projecting flanges on 'th side walls, an upward; project on the under frame in the the atoreinentioned flanges, gated sheet metal end .r lower edge to the car, provided. fying members along its an to bear against said flanges wh right position, said corrugations in the space defined by sea. members.

.17; In a;drop end gondola car, the combi- Qn with the under irai e d side of the car, of means eons" .ti inn ice PI'OJGCtlng flanges on the EltlGilll of a side Walls, an upwardly projectir flan the under frame in the same plane Wu aforementioned flanges, sheet metal end gate hing edge to the car rovided with stituting rigidifying flanges ah adapted to support the gate on the car, said gate being adapted to 1 against the flanges on the side wa and an der frame when in upright position.

18. In a drop end gondola a bination with the body of the gate comprising a corrugat' panel provided with rigidity its edges, means for hingin of said gate to the ear ZILN'TUN 

